The Cubs are still trying to figure out exactly where they are in the half-hearted rebuild they began nearly two years ago.
Chicago extended multiple key players earlier in 2023 and aimed to contend this season, but the team has struggled just to get to .500. That leaves the status of Marcus Stroman and others in question as the trade deadline approaches.
Regardless of which direction the Cubs choose, the draft represents an opportunity to add talent to their farm system. With the 13th overall pick in a highly anticipated draft, Jed Hoyer has a chance to add a player who can quickly become one of the organization's top prospects.
Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner have all been taken by the Cubs in the first round since Hoyer joined the front office. Who's next?
MLB DRAFT: Top 100 big board | SN's mock draft
The Cubs will be making 20 picks in the 2023 MLB Draft. Here's a look at when Chicago will be picking and the players Hoyer could target early in the draft.
Cubs draft picks 2023: When does Chicago pick?
- Round 1, Pick 13: Matt Shaw, 2B, Maryland
- Comp., Pick 68: Jaxon Wiggins, P, Arkansas
- Round 3, Pick 81:
- Round 4: Pick 113:
- Round 5: Pick 149:
- Round 6, Pick 176:
- Round 7, Pick 206:
- Round 8, Pick 236:
- Round 9, Pick 266:
- Round 10, Pick 296:
- Round 11, Pick 326:
- Round 12, Pick 356:
- Round 13, Pick 386:
- Round 14, Pick 416:
- Round 15, Pick 446:
- Round 16, Pick 476:
- Round 17, Pick 506:
- Round 18, Pick 536:
- Round 19, Pick 566:
- Round 20, Pick 596:
Cubs MLB Draft order 2023
| Round | Overall pick |
| 1 | 13 |
| Compensation | 68 |
| 3 | 81 |
| 4 | 113 |
| 5 | 149 |
| 6 | 176 |
| 7 | 206 |
| 8 | 236 |
| 9 | 266 |
| 10 | 296 |
| 11 | 326 |
| 12 | 356 |
| 13 | 386 |
| 14 | 416 |
| 15 | 446 |
| 16 | 476 |
| 17 | 506 |
| 18 | 536 |
| 19 | 566 |
| 20 | 596 |
Cubs mock draft 2023
Here are the current projections for the Cubs' first three picks, according to the three-round mock draft from SN's Edward Sutelan.
Sutelan has the Cubs going a familiar route in the first round, as only one of their last 10 first-round picks has been from the high school ranks. After Maryland's Matt Shaw, however, he has Chicago taking a chance on two prep hitters.
| Round | Overall pick | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | 13 | Matt Shaw | SS | Maryland |
| Comp. | 68 | Trent Caraway | 3B/SS | JSerra Catholic H.S. |
| 3 | 81 | Will Gasparino | OF | Harvard-Westlake H.S. |
Cubs' Top 5 prospects
Here are the Cubs' top five prospects, according to MLB Pipeline:
| Rank | Name | Position |
| 1 | Pete Crow-Armstrong | OF |
| 2 | Cade Horton | P |
| 3 | Ben Brown | P |
| 4 | Kevin Alcantara | OF |
| 5 | Jordan Wicks | P |